One of the privileges of being the editor of Our Sunday Visitor is to represent our publication at the great events in the life of the Church. Today, I’m headed to Rome to pay respects to the late Pope Emeritus on behalf of our readers and the entire Our Sunday Visitor family.
On Saturday evening, I was able to concelebrate a special memorial Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. (Readers of our newspaper no doubt recall that our founder, Archbishop Noll played a central role in promoting the construction of the basilica). Like so many of you, Pope Benedict XVI was a pilgrim who went to our beloved shrine to Our Lady. The Shrine was adorned with black bunting, all the more striking as the columns of fabric hang between two Christmas wreaths.
In 2008, during his visit to the United States, Pope Benedict gifted a papal rose to the basilica. The papal rose is “symbol of papal affection” inspired by a verse in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (11:1). During Saturday’s memorial Mass, that gift was on display in the main sanctuary of the Upper Church.
Additionally, a corner of the main sanctuary, on the right side, up past the apse dome dedicated to St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, stands a humble shrine to Our Lady of Altötting. Pope Benedict was dearly devoted to this Bavarian Madonna and paused before that very statue for a few moments of quiet prayer during his visit to the basilica. During the memorial Mass, photos and poinsettias suitably adorned this little corner of the church, recalling the pope’s pilgrimage.
As a young seminarian, Pope Benedict was deeply inspiring to me. I read his encyclical letter Deus Caritas Est while in high school (I was that sort of student), and learned to think with the mind of the Church in no small part because of his work and example. It will be an extraordinary privilege to witness his funeral Mass and to share that journey with you.
Along with thousands of Catholics and other men and women of goodwill from all over the world, I will be there praying at the heart of our Church. Please pray for the peaceful repose of Pope Benedict XVI and for all those who mourn his loss.
Father Patrick Briscoe, OP, is editor of Our Sunday Visitor. Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMaryOP.
